Midvolga-2 Tanker Carrying Sunflower Oil From Russia To Georgia Was Attacked 80 Miles Off Our Coast; Vessel Steaming Towards Sinop Under Its Own Power
ANKARA, Turkey – A new escalation in the Black Sea has raised tensions once again. The Directorate General of Maritime Affairs (DGM) announced that another vessel was targeted by an attack in the region. The incident reportedly occurred in international waters, approximately 80 miles off the Turkish coast.
📝 Section 1: The Latest Incident (Midvolga-2)
The vessel that came under attack was identified as the tanker MIDVOLGA-2.
- Route and Cargo: The tanker was sailing from Russia to Georgia carrying a cargo of sunflower oil.
- Crew Status: The DGM confirmed that none of the 13 crew members on board suffered any adverse effects. The vessel did not request immediate assistance.
- Action: Following the attack, the tanker continued its voyage under its own power, heading towards the Turkish port of Sinop for safety.
💥 Section 2: Precedents: The Kairos And Previous Attacks
This new Black Sea Ship Attack follows closely on the heels of similar incidents just days earlier, underscoring the growing risks in the maritime corridor. Two other tankers were hit near the Turkish coast off Kandıra (Kocaeli) and Kastamonu on November 28th.
- The Kairos Tanker Fire: The most notable of the previous incidents involved the empty tanker named KAIROS, which caught fire after an explosion while sailing from Egypt to Russia.
- Emergency Response: The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced that 25 personnel from the KAIROS tanker were safely evacuated by teams from the Directorate General of Coastal Safety. Furthermore, the KURTARMA-12 Tugboat and the NENE HATUN Emergency Response Vessel battled the fire aboard the vessel throughout the night.
- Environmental Security: The Ministry noted that firefighting and cooling operations were ongoing in the vessel’s enclosed areas, with experts and divers ready for post-fire assessment.
🌐 Section 3: Rising Geopolitical Tension In The Black Sea
The recurrence of attacks targeting vessels in the Black Sea over a short period heightens concerns regarding commercial and civilian maritime security in the region. Consequently, this situation once again demonstrates how severely geopolitical tensions are affecting shipping operations in the Black Sea.
